With our external environment changing daily, many juggling children, work and some of us on furlough – a combination of lack of control with an unclear ending can be unsettling for everyone.
If you are a Director, Manager, Leader or Coach of a company big or small it is imperative that alongside effectively communicating externally, internal communication is amplified and simplified for your employees and colleagues. Not only to support their wellbeing but to create a rapport of trust with your employees and wider team during such unsettling times for many.
Below we talk through a few ways of maintaining communication within your teams:
Using Platforms to Instantly Communicate Throughout the Day
Applications such as Slack and Microsoft Teams(among others) allow teams to work cohesively together on projects throughout the day as if they were in the office rather than feeling isolated working alone. Using platforms like this is personally working well within our organisation as it allows for video chats and the sharing of documents on projects in real-time, rather than using e-mails.
Virtual Video Meetings
Like attending office meetings, hosting virtual video meetings can work to boost morale as employees get to see each other face-to-face, and communicate on projects as if they were working in the office. It is more personal than a phone conference or email chain, which is exactly what is needed in times of crisis where isolation can put a toll on individuals' mental health.
Virtual Team Building Incentives
Many of our clients have introduced virtual incentives such as quizzes, drinks nights, virtual lunch meetings and even yoga - to name a few. This is a great way to not only destress from the pressures many are feeling working from home and juggling various responsibilities in isolation, but a new way to continue socialising, and team building. It really shows employees what your employer brand is about, in at a time where your employees need to see it the most – particularly crucial for employers who are continuing to onboard candidates.
Company Newsletters
Sharing positive news stories happening within your company in the form of a monthly or weekly newsletter is a great way of keeping employees up to date with behind the scenes of your organisation, so that when normality returns individuals are up to date and in a positive frame of mind.
Of course, these are only a handful of ways of maintaining effective communication within your teams and organisation.